CHAPTER 2

The same morning, the Angel Investigations crew were helping Cordelia move her stuff back in to her hold apartment.

"Wow I never knew Cordy had such a collection." Fred told Angel & Gunn, as she looked through a box of books. The Texan girl delved in to her pocket and pulled out a shinny silver case, she opened it up and took out her glasses. "The Secret Garden!" She shouted in very excited, squeaky schoolgirl type tone whilst putting her glasses on.

"When's Fred's birthday?" Angel asked Gunn, as he put a cardboard box labelled 'shoes' down.

"Fred's birthday?" Gunn repeated, also placing a box on the floor.

"I just think it's time we brought Fred a bag, she always carries them in her pocket." Angel replied, referring to Fred's glasses.

"That's ma girl." Gunn told Angel, looking affectionately on at her.

"Oh no, Gunn! Can you put the trophy box in the main room please? That way visitors get to see them whenever they come to my apartment." Cordelia asked as she came in to her room box less.

Gunn sighed, picking up the box and carrying it out of the room.

"Cordy, you don't have to move back in to your old apartment, there's plenty of room back at the Hotel." Angel told her, taking a moments rest from the box carrying.

"Yeah she does!" Gunn interrupted, bringing in Cordy's 'underwear' box.

"Angel, that's very sweet of you but I like my apartment." Cordy told him, touching Gunn's shoulder and pointing to the bed.

"I just. Don't like the idea of you being alone."

"She's not alone." Connor told his father, walking in with the pants box. "I'm moving in too."

"What?!"

"What?!" Angel & Gunn both said one after another, looking to Cordelia for answers.

"Well he can't be alone, and he's already refused to live in the Hotel. This is the perfect solution." Cordy told the others, defending her actions.

"Don't worry, I'll keep her warm. I mean, safe." Connor told his father, attempting to wind him up.

"Ya know, I can move in if you want." Angel said, barging his son out of the way and standing about a metre from Cordelia.

"No you can't! I mean. There's no room." Connor quickly replied.

"Angel, you have a room. Do you really wanna see your son out on the streets?"

"Well no but."

"There you have it then!" Connor said, once again interrupting his father.

It was plainly obvious that both father and son had feelings for the girl, and even more so that Connor was trying to get one over on his dad.

"Sweetie, don't be afraid to get a box." Gunn told Fred, who was still looking through Cordelia's box of books.

"Oh Charles, did you ever read 'To Kill a Mocking Bird' growing up? Back at the library, it was one of the most checked our books and we used to have conversations about like ALL the time. Of course being sucked in to a demon dimension kinder put a stop to that."

"Ya know what? Carry on looking at the books, I'll deal with the boxes." Gunn told her, not wanting to be dragged in to 'mocking bird' conversation.

"Guys, can you start UN-packing these boxes for me?" Cordelia asked father and son, quickly following Gunn out of the room.

In the front room, Gunn shook his head and picked up the 'shirts' box.

"Just 'cos she likes her books, doesn't mean you're not important to her either."

"Oh, I know, it's just sometimes when I see her talking about all this stuff I don't know, I wonder why she fell for me and not Wesley."

"Well don't, it's plainly obvious how much she loves you. And that's sorter thing that brings the rest of us hope." Cordelia told him, as she picked up her phone. "Cut off." She said under her breath and putting the phone down.

bAfternoon, Wolfram & Hart Building

"Sorry hun, but the Senior Partners are refusing to get Wolfram & Hart involved with a Shaman. Can't say I blame them, ever seen a Shaman? Very cryptic things, have this thing where you're forever in debt to them. Holland Manners used one once, almost killed him - it was only because he was due a promotion that the senior partners stepped in and had the Shaman call off the debt. Ever since, there's been this bad blood."

Wesley didn't like rejection much, so being rejected by the evil law firm left him feeling quite humiliated. Especially since they were his sworn enemies, doing business with evil demons and killing innocent people. "Lilah, I came to Wolfram & Hart because I was under the impression they wanted to see Angel lose his soul. This is the perfect way to do it!"

"You have our answer. But I am wondering. Why do you wanna remove your friend's soul?" Lilah was quite puzzled, she knew Wesley had changed since parting ways with Angel Investigations. But she never knew he was evil.

Wesley made no answer, he simply shook his head in disappointment and stood up; making his way to the door. "Strange, before you gave yourself a promotion, you disagreed with the Senior Partners a number of times." He told her, closing the door behind him.

bWesley's apartment, same afternoon

As Wes entered his apartment, the room turned dark - even though the blinds were wide open.

"Why have you contacted me human?" A deep voice asked.

Wesley instantly knew what was happening. "So Lilah came through." He said quietly, she still managed to surprise him. "I take it you're aware of the vampire with a soul?" He shouted across the room, making no attempt to see or question him, and getting right down to business.

"You want it removed." The voice said back.

"Yes, what will it cost to remove the vampire's soul?"

"You're life!" The voice shouted.

"The cost for soul extraction is life? Does it have to be mine?" Wesley questioned.

"Money is of no use to a Shaman, extracting soul's takes a lot of power, a life must be taken in exchange, life charges our power."

"Can't you go out and kill someone?"

Light returned to the room, and the Shaman was revealed. He was covered in black clothing and wore a hooded mask that covered his face, only his eyes could be seen. "You want me to perform dark magic, in return I take your life, or you find a life and still owe me yours."

"I'll get you life. And pledge mine in debt you as well."

TO BE CONTINUED